Puns flying high over ‘Bud Bowl’

The commercials, the game, the pomp and circumstance all heighten the experience of actually watching a game on TV. This year, things are being elevated differently, with jokes flying high about pot.

This year, the “Bud Bowl” has a different meaning, thanks to the legalization of recreational marijuana in both Washington and Colorado.

I’m sure Anheuser-Busch Co. will still have commercials where Clydesdale horses line up for a game of football. Or maybe the beer company will go back to the commercial breaks featuring “Bud” and “Bud Lite” bottle teams.

But back here and in Colorado, residents are already chuckling in the marijuana haze. And the brewing company’s message is lost before being aired.

In Denver, a couple of guys put down a mere $44 to register The Stoner Bowl website at www.stonerbowl.org. On the site, they are hawking T-shirts that replace NFL with THC (marijuana’s primary active compound).

That’s just the beginning.

I have received “joint’ press releases about the football game from groups and individuals near and far.

Weed-themed Super Bowl parties are being planned across both states.

Celebrities are getting in on the action, too. Tommy Chong, well-known for his stoner role in “Cheech and Chong” movies, wrote on his Facebook page:

“I'm staying home and will be watching the Super Bowl while I light up my own Super Bowl.”

Cheech Marin and Chong have already released a new joint press kit featuring Chong in a Seahawks headband and Cheech in a Broncos stocking hat.

Oh, how musicians John Denver and Jimi Hendrix must be flying high above their graves.

In Colorado, Denver’s song “Rocky Mountain High” is probably getting a lot of air time. In Seattle, Hendrix fans are demanding “Purple Haze.”

With other nicknames for this year’s big game like “Smoker Bowl,” “420 Bowl,” “Bong Bowl,” “Marijuana Bowl” and “Weed Bowl,” I can’t help but wonder what the “eat-os” commercials will be like. Will there be more Doritos, Fritos and Cheetos in the bowls at parties?

One thing’s for sure, Colorado businesses already open for retail marijuana sales expect a smokin’ business the rest of this week. Local Washington entrepreneurs lining up for pot-growing, processing and sales licenses can only wish they could get in on the action.

Jokes aside, like many of you, I hope to be able to watch this year’s Super Bowl, which begins at 3:30 p.m. P.S.T.

I can’t wait to see the Hawks smoke the Broncos.

And I can’t wait to see the scoreboard light up.

Roger Harnack is the editor and publisher of The Chronicle. He can be reached